Oscillating engine



April 29, 1930- J. BERGESEN, SR 1,756,017

OSCILLATING ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 1. 192s April 29, 1930. J. BERGESEN, sR .1,755,017

' OSCILLATING ENGINE Filed sept. 1. 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1930 PATENT OFFICE JOHN BERGESEN, SR., 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK OSCILLATING ENGINE Application filed September 1, 1928. Serial No. 903,572.

This invention relates t0 oscillating engines, that is to say engines of the type wherein a piston is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis and is oscillated back andv forth through the arc of a circle for the purpose of oscillating or rocking a shaft secured thereto.

Engines of the general type under consideration are described and claimed in my issued Patents, No. 1,116,974, and 1,116,975, issued .November 10, 1914, and 1,125,639, issued January 19, 1915. These prior constructions, however, lhave been intended for use with an aeroform fluid as a power medium, such, forexample, as compressed air or steam. It is well understood that aeroform fluids are highly compressible and have the inherent property of cushioning the piston during Ithe operations thereof. Thus the apparatus which I have disclosed in my prior patents operates with high eiiiciency when an aeroform fluid is employed to actuate them. Experience has shown however, that if it is attempted to operate such constructions hydraulically as by the use of liquids, such as water or oil, there Vis a prnounced tendency to produce shocks, particularly at the beginning and end of the stroke. The reason for this v is that Water or oil are practically non-compressible and when they are suddenly introduced under considerable pressure into the space behind theV piston, they rapidly ll such space and then, without any cushioning e'ectwhatsoever, exert a sudden starting impulse on the piston.

Similarly at the end of the stroke, the inertia of the liquid, as well as the inertia of. .the moving parts of the valve, are very apt to result in considerable shock during the bringing of the piston to rest at the end of the stroke. For this reason, the speed of operation ofthe engines'of the prior art, if it is sought'to employ hydraulics in their operation, must necessarily be relatively slow, otherwise the shocks to which the apparatus is subjected at the beginning and ending of the' stroke of the piston are such as to .produce -a pronounced detrimental effect upon the con- With the foregoing considerations in struction with possibility of breakage therel of.

mind, the object of the present invention is to provide oscillating engine construction wherein a liquid may be used for motive power and wherein the engine may be operated at high speeds hydraulically without detrimental shocks or vibration.

These objects are obtained in accordance with the present invention by so constructing the cylinder in which the piston operates that air will be trapped at each end of the stroke of the piston in such manner that when the liquid rushes suddenly into the cylinder back of the piston under high pressure, it will act against an air cushion in the starting of the operation of the piston and may also be brought to rest at the end of this stroke without shock or vibration by a similarly acting air cushion. By thus operating the engine, detrimental shock and vibration are entirely eliminated and the engine can be operated at much higher speeds than would otherwise be possible through the employment of a liquid as a prime mover.

The piston is `started and accelerated smoothly and is similarly stopped under absolute control at all times and considerably greater power can be supplied through an oscillating engine of this invention employing liquid as a prime mover than could possibly be obtained under prior known -constructions utilizing compressed air or steam.

y Features of the invention, other than those referred to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and clalms, when read in conjunctionI with the accompanying drawings.

i The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

' Figure 1 is a plan view of'an oscillating Figure 5 illustrates a-modied form of air receiver.`

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing an engine, the structure of which is of considerably greater amplitude than in' the engine of Fig. 3. 4

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

.Figures 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing the functioning of an engine embodying this invention when employed as a Pump Figure 10 is a vertical section of a valve when the apparatus is used as a pump.

Figure 11 is a plan View of the same construction.

The engine lof the present invention may partake of various forms, but in illustratin the same in the accompanying drawings, have shown it as adapted to engines of the general \types shown in my prior patents hereinbefore referred to. Thus, in Figures 1,

2 and 3,'the present invention is shown as incorporated in an engine of 'the general V;tructural character illustrated in Patent No. 1,116,97 5 and these -figures of the drawings illustrate how the present invention may 4be associated with an engine of this type when it is desired to employsuch a structure as a pump or engine to 'be operated upon or to be operated by liquids. In these ligures of the drawings, 1 designates the casing of the engine which is provided therein' with an arcuate chamber in which a piston 2 is mounted for oscillation. The piston 2 is integral with or secured to the engine shaft 3 which i's mounted for oscillation 4in the casing. As the shaft 3 oscillates, the piston 2 swings back and forth across the cylinder 4 fand is thus double acting since "it is adapted to act in both directions. l v

The shaft 3 is preferably made hollow as shown and positioned within the hollow, interior of the shaft is a valve 5 of any suitable construction adapted, when operated by appropriate means, to control the entry or exhaustof liquids through the ports 6 and 7, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The structure which I have thus far de- No. 1,116,975 which is directed to an oscillating engine adapted to be actuated through the employment of aeroform iiuid such as steam. If it is attempted to substitute liquid for the steam inthe operation of such an engine, pronouncedshocks result atgthe beginning and end of the stroke which make 1t necessary to operate the engine at a very low speed, in order that these shocks` may not seriously affect the apparatus. l The present invention may, however, be incorporated into an engine of this character in such a way as to render it highly ellicient when operated even at relatively high speeds end walls 8 and 9 of the cylinder an air receiver, the receiver of the wall 8 being desigv nated 10 and the receiver of the wall 9 being designated 11. These receivers are shown as formed directly inthe casting which forms the body ofthe casing and as shown 'in Figure 4, the chamber 11 is substantially equal to the height of the cylinder so as to give a relatively spacious chamber which communicates at its lower end with the interior of the cylinder 4 through an opening 12. The chamber' 10 communicates with the other end of the cylinder through a corresponding opening 13. l

The structure exhibited in Figures 1 to 4 is adapted to operate with the shaft 3 vertical as shown in Fig. 2, and'therefore the passages 12 and 13 are positioned at the bottom of the cylinder'V and their receivers so that as liquid enters the cylinder and passes through the passages 12 or 13 to rise in the chambers 10 and 11, it will trap the air these chambers as `shown in Fig. 4, so that the trapped air will serve as an air cushion. Suppose, for example, that the piston is in the mid position shown in Fig. 3 and traveling in a clockwise direction and that the apparatus.

is acting as an en ine to operate an arm 14 secured to the shaft 3, liquid will be passing into the cylinder 4 behind the piston through the port 7 under considerable pressure and the liquid in the cylinder 4 behind the piston will be under a corresponding pressure which will be exerted through the passage 12 on to thebody of liquid within the chamber 11 as indicated in Fig. 4.

This' liquid in the chamber 11, however, will be compressing the air which it has trapped in said chamberso that as the liquid continues to rush into the cylinder through the port 7, the ltrapped air in thechamber 11 will actas a cushion against sudden shocks. While the piston is moving as stated, by the t introduction of liquid under pressure behind it, the liquid in the cylinder forwardly of the piston and between the piston and the wall 8 will be exhausting through the port 6 and it will be exhausting under the cushioning effect of air trapped in. the same manner in the chamber 10, so that when the piston reaches the end of its stroke adjacent the wall 8, it will come to a cushioned stop without shock. Now, if'V the valve 5, which may be of any suitable type, is shifted by a handle 15 or any/other suitable means to vfeed liquid under pressure through the por-t 8 and to per` mit the exhaust of liquid through the portv 7, the initial rushofliquid into the cylinder will not produce a sudden start of the piston with an accompanying fknock or shock, but such liquid will. first trap air in the chamber o5 by a liquid and in Figs. 1 to 4 of ythe draw- 10 and will thereupon act against such air as a cushion so that the piston will be started on its return stroke-by liquidacting upon an air cushion. The start of the piston will thereby be afected without undue shock which would occur if the air chambers were absent.

It thus appears that at both ends of the stroke, the piston is cushioned a ainst shock or jar and the device will therefore operate to produce a smooth flow of power throughout the entire stroke of thepiston in either direction.

I have illustrated in Figure 4 an opening in the top of the chamber 11 and which opening is normally sealed by a screw 16. This screw may be removed to permit air to flow into the cylinder if. for any reason or other the air in the chambers leaks out. If the construction is so accurately made that leakage of air cannot possibly occur, the .means for charging the construction with air may be omitted, but it is, however, .preferably provided in practice. Plugged hole 16 may also end 17 adapted to be screwed directly into and correspond to the chambers 10 and-11 of.

be used for gauging purposes.

In the construction of Figs. 1 to 4, the air receivers 10 and 11 are shown as formed in the casting of the'casing. A modified form of the invention is shown in Figure 5 wherein the receiver 10b which corresponds to the receivers 10 and 11 of Figure 1 is made of a separate part provided with a screw threaded passages 12 or 13. The advantage of this latter construction is that the present invention may be associated with the structure of my prior Patent No. 1,116,975 by merel drilling holes at the opposite ends of the cy inder, thereafter tapping ,the holes and then screwing into each of these holes the threaded end 17 of the separate receiver shown in Figure 5. The resulting construction will operate in the same manner as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the apparatus is so constructed that the piston will operate through approximately degrees, whereas in Fig. 6, a construction is illustrated wherein the piston will operateV throughout the maj'or portion of a complete circuit. This construction of Figure 6 corresponds in its general structure to the engine disclosed in my Patent No. 1,125,639.

The casing is designated 1a, the cylinder 4 and between the ends of the cylinder is positioned `whatI term a division head 18. This division head has a central solid partition 19 and spaced from it and integral therewith are two walls 8a and 9a, so that between the partition 19 and the Wall 8 is formed a chamber 10El and between the partition 19 and the Wall 9a is formed a chamber 11". These chambers 10a and-11a constitute the air receivers Figs. 1 to 4. The end walls'8 and 9n have passages 12a and 13 which correspond to the passages 12 and 13; The piston 2a is mounted ton 2, particular y at the ends of its stroke.

In thus far describing the operation of the apparatus, I have dealt with the same particularly when employed as an engine. It'

will be understood, however, that it ma be utilized as a pump and Figures 9 and 10 s ow diagrammatically the operation of the structure of Figures 1,to 4 in this connection.

In Fig. 8, the piston 2 is shown at its pressure stroke as indicated by the arrow and air trapped within the chamber 11 is under considerable pressure to cushion the operation of the piston and force the liquid Out through the exhausting port under the action of an air cushion. l

In Fig. 9, the piston is shown on a suction stroke. The liquid -is shown as drawn into the cylinder back of the .piston due to the suction incident to movement of the piston while a partial vacuum has been produced in the chamber 11 to cushion the operation of the piston in 'sucking the liquid into the cylinder behind it. The piston therefore operates under a cushion in both directions when the apparatus is employed as a pump and the presence of the air receivers also materially assists in imparting to the pump a smooth and should be so constructed and operated that` they cannot be forced from their working surface. Very satisfactory valve construction for pump use is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, but I wish it understood that I do not limit this invention to particular forms of valve'construction as any suitable'valve capable of carrying out the purposes required of it may be used without departing from this invention. Il l It should be noted that in all the constructions as shown the air,l receiver chambers are located adjacent each end of the cylinder and v are 1n open communication with the cylinder at all times. There are no valves positioned 'in the communicating passages but the open communication remains unchanged under all conditions of operation. Thus, 1n my conecause in pump operation, the presdo similar to that disclosed in my other priorstruction, each aii' chamber kis in effect double acting in that its acts both on the suction Patent No. `1,116,974 which shows an oscillatlLetters Patent is:

of the character described,

engine having a plurality of pistons and a plurality of division heads. Furthermore, the invention is notlimited in its application to the structures of my prior patents as it may be associated'with oscillating engines oi va.- rious forms without departing from this invention, the scope of which is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims. Y l

Having thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by 1. In apparatus an arcuate cylinder, ,a piston mounted to `oscillate thereon, valvular means for controlling the inlet and outlet of liquid to the cylinder at the opposite sides of the piston, an air receiver chamber located adjacent each end ofthe cylinder, a walled passage connecting the base of each air chamber to the corresponding end of the cylinder adjacent the base of the latter, the interiors of said air chambers being at all times in open communication with the interior of the cylinder, whereby air in said chambers is adapted to be trapped therein by liquid in the cylinder and-to act as a cushion to preclude shocks incident to the operation of the piston in both directions.

. 2. In apparatus of the character described,

l an arcuate. cylinder, a piston mounted to vis a casing providedl therein with an arcuate Y,

oscilla'te thereon, valvular means for conand adapted to oscillate therein, valvular means for controlling .the inlet and outlet ofliquid to the cylinder on op site sides ofthe piston, air receiver cham rs one of .which isv located adjacent each end of the cylinder, a walled passage connecting the base of each air chamber to the corresponding end of the cylinder adjacent the lbase of the latter, the interiors of said air chambers being at all times in' open communication with the interior of the cylinder, whereby the rise of liquid in the chambers will trap air therein and cause the air to cushion the operations of the piston in both directions.

In testimonywhereof I Vhave signed the foregoing specification.

JOHN BERGESEN, SR.

'trolling the inlet and outlet of liquid to the y cylinder at theV opposite sides of the piston, an air receiver chamber located adjacent each end of the cylinder, a walled passage connecting-the base of each air chamber to the corresponding end of the cylinder adja-v fcent the base of the latter, the interiors of said `air chambers being at in open communication with the interior of the cylin der, whereby air in said chambers is adapted to be trapped therein by liquid in the cylinder and to act as a cushion to preclude shocks incident to the operation of the piston vin both' directions, and means for priming said chambers with air when desired. l 3. In apparatus of the character described,

i cylinder having a co-axial bearing formed .in the casing, a shaft mounted to oscillate in said bearing and provided with a radially extending piston positioned in the cylinderl 

